FAQs

Is Tree & Booms good for every recording project?

No. After working together awhile before moving on to another studio, a band once told me that they wanted a place where it was “ok to spill beer on the floor.” That is not this studio. Tree & Booms is best suited to those who still believe in the intrinsic value of recorded music, who enjoy going deep into recording as a creative process rather than just getting it done, and who like the warm tones of old school sound coupled with the airy detail of modern records. I only take on projects that seem like a good fit so that we both stand the best chance of feeling positive about the process/results.

Do you consult or work with other producers, engineers, or songwriters?

Yes. That can mean workflow consulting for producers or engineers, mix feedback on your own sessions, digging into your original songs, or (for musicians) sessions focused on musicianship, rhythm, or developing a personal creative practice. Consulting availability depends on fit and schedule. For more information, contact mattwyatt@treeandbooms.com.

What does hardware actually add?

High quality recording hardware has a tone, resonance, and musicality similar to any great acoustic instrument or amplifier. I love tube compressors, microphones, and preamps as well as certain op-amps and transformers that impart a signature tone or color into the recorded sound. And I find that hardware tends to do this with an immediacy that computer plugins often struggle to replicate. To my ears the difference is not subtle and it’s a meaningful part of what an artist or producer gets by working with me.

Who are you, anyway?

In addition to producing, recording, mixing, and co-writing with artists in the studio, I’ve worked professionally as a freelance drummer and percussionist for over 20 years. And I have taught music in many forms for as long. Field recording and sound design are ongoing personal practices.

I released a solo album called Exist Everywhere in 2025 and an earlier album of musical sketches called Boom & Bloom on WarHen Records in 2020. I mostly stay off social media but I write about the creative process of making music and playing with sound in my newsletter on Substack and was recently a guest on the ProducerHead podcast.